What about any examples of kindly, gently defending against "landlord mission creep?"

There is nothing you can say at that point to defend yourself.I just had this exact same problem crop up as I was driving by one of my rentals 2 weeks ago.

Sue K. point taken but that's the way my attorney suggested doing business and since she's the one defending my lease I'm going to follow her advice.

So I think I'm airtight legally.Since the tenant is moving out of state, I suspect that if she doesn't send payment for the bill related to the damages I will send her, filing a case in small claims court will likely make me the default winner, not because I have all the documentation, but because she isn't going to be able to afford to fly here to defend herself. 

It isn't so much as it would become more important at that point (or based on a higher probability of a crazy one signing up), it would be more of a realistic possibility and benefit of that arrangement.FYI, my wife is no snowflake, and she has the means to defend herself in the event of a meanacing trespasser at our home."...that door you kicked in was locked for YOUR protection."

You want your insurance company to stand to lose as much as possible if you get sued, so they defend you the best.

You need coverage to pay the lawyers to defend you, even if you are innocent.

So if he would have paid $300 that would have been acceptable which makes no senseI always say deduct what you are willing to defend in court if need be. 

Account Closed I appreciate your comment, and I will not try to defend myself.

In my extensive experience this is intended to provide heirs and devisees of deceased owners ample opportunity to assert and/or defend their claims.I've been on both sides of these cases.